DR. MATTIE MAE CARTER MCGLOTHEN was born in Tehuacana, Texas near Mexia (Me-Hare). She was the eleventh of fifteen children. She attended public school in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and college at Quindaro College in Kansas City, Kansas.

In 1921, she was saved; Holy Ghost filled and healed of tuberculosis the same night. She married Bishop George Wenzell McGlothenin September 1923. They founded and pastored churches in Hugo, Idabelle and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa; Fresno, Los Angeles, Richmond and Pittsburgh, California.

Dedicated women such as Dr. Mattie Mae Carter McGlothen comprise God's noblest creation. God blessed her with a strong and abiding faith in Him. The scope and magnitude of her exemplary leadership provided locally, nationally and throughout the world made our Church greater, and our world a better place to live. Her leadership role in these critical and difficult times symbolized hope, expectancy, and positive catalytic energy for change and progress for the great church of which we are a part.

Dr. Mattie McGlothen served as a Supervisor in the California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction for sixty-one years (1933-1994), and as General Supervisor for the International Women’s Department and Third President of the Women’s International Convention of the Church of God in Christ for eighteen years (1967-1994).

The Pavilion in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; a home for missionaries in the Bahamas Island, McGlothen House Annex, Women’s Department Office and guest house and the Women’s Convention Project, “I Am Concerned,” were a few of her humanitarian efforts.

She founded, organized or reorganized the International Hospitality; Education and Scholarship Fund; Bishop’s Wives Scholarship Fund; Screening Committee for Jurisdictional Supervisors; McGlothen Foundation; Emergency Relief Fund; WE-12; Lavender Ladies; Leadership Conference for Jurisdictional Leaders and National Workers; and the Business and Professional Women’s Federation.

She was instrumental in the building of a home for missionaries in the Bahamas, a pavilion for senior citizens and unwed mothers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; McGlothen House Annex, Women’s Department Office and guest house and the Women’s Convention Project, ‘I Am Concerned,” were a few of her humanitarian efforts.

Finally, she changed the visible presence of women in ministry with the introduction of the ministry "habit". Today thousands of COGIC women when ministering the gospel or serving in official capacities are seen in their civic (black) or ceremonial (white) habits.

Dr. Mattie McGlothen was a true role model for Holy Women and possessed the rare qualities which linked us to the past yet clearly defined our future. Her comments were always filled with wisdom and understanding. She provoked us to love and to do good works and gave abundant opportunities to each of us as women in the vineyard. Mother McGlothen translated positive attitudes and was an anchor for Church of God in Christ women.

She passed away on May 4, 1994 at her home in Richmond, California.